Braves maroon Menominee
Trending
GLADSTONE -- The Gladstone softball team put its competence on display Monday at home in a 13-3 win over Menominee after five innings.
"Lot of girls took turns hitting the ball today," Braves coach Rick Pepin said. "That last inning, that little fury of hits. That's what we've been waiting for, and that's what we're capable of doing from top to bottom. We talked to the girls about that last inning, and that's how we want to play."
The Braves started their scoring in the bottom of the first.
After a groundout, Addie Trombley drew a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Rylee Gerow then earned herself an RBI on a fly triple that bounced off the center field fence.
Marnea LaFave stepped up and put one almost in the same spot as Gerow, except as a double, and Gerow crossed home plate to make it 2-0 Braves.
Montgomery Pepin then flew out as LaFave scored, and Gladstone led 3-0 leaving the first.
It was Pepin's time to shine in the top of the second as she threw two strikeouts and tossed a ground ball to first to exit the top after three batters.
"I thought Montgomery pitched well tonight," coach Pepin said. "She looked confident tonight, and she looked focused. When she goes, we go."
In the bottom of the second, Maggie Buckley reached on a ground ball thanks to a fielder's choice that tagged out Alaina Trudeau at second.
A groundout gave Buckley the opportunity to make it to third, and she earned the only Braves' run of the inning on a passed ball.
The Maroons would score their first run of the game in the top of the third after a ground ball and a walk put two on base.
Mady Barker batted Ashlee Erickson in on another ground ball to reduce Menominee's deficit to 4-1.
Pepin finished the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
The Braves extended their lead and sealed the game in the bottom of the third.
After a groundout, Gerow collected another triple thanks to a wide throw at second. Then, LaFave earned an RBI on a groundout as Gerow crossed home plate.
"I liked that they kept their heads up," Maroons coach Jim Berger said. "We had some issues last week where they got down, and they stayed down. Our pitcher was also a freshman, and I think she did a great job. I think it'll all come together."
Just after, Pepin drew a walk, and Reese Herioux drove a hard ball down the foul line for an RBI triple. It was a passed ball just after that allowed Herioux to slide into home and add to the Braves' advantage, 7-1.
The Maroons exited the top of the fourth with three quick outs, and Gladstone added another three runs in the bottom.
In the top of the fifth, Menominee earned two runs on a grounder from Barker and a fly-double from Kennedy Olson.
The Braves earned three more in the bottom and finished the game on a ground out from Trombley that scored Kenzington Pepin.
Montgomery Pepin earned the win over five, giving up three hits and three runs (2 ER) while striking out 11.
Kenzington Pepin, Gerow (3-3 AB), LaFave and Montgomery Pepin all finished with two RBIs apiece, and Herioux and Trombley chipped one in each.
"We were steady with the little fury at the end," coach Pepin said. "We just slowly keep going in the right direction. We talk a lot in practice that every day is a chance to get one percent better, and we've been doing that.
"(The errors) are something we need to clean up, and we're still looking for the elusive perfect defensive game."
Barker took the loss for the Maroons, allowing 10 hits, 13 runs (11 ER) and six walks. She struck out one.
Olson picked up two RBIs for Menominee, and Barker (2-3) added one.
"We're young yet," Berger said. "In the infield, I had one upperclassman. The rest were freshmen. The six-hole and the four-spot were also freshmen, and they've never played in those spots before. We got some injuries last week, and I've got a few more who are out right now. We're a little shorthanded. We played pretty good for being true freshmen."
Gladstone visits Negaunee Thursday, and Menominee hosts Peshtigo, Wis. today.